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Council approves Boulevard zoning updates to allow entertainment, food halls and eSports venues
Summary
Avondale approved a zoning-code text amendment to expand allowed Boulevard District uses — including eSports arenas, food halls and outdoor uses with noise limits — and to modify parking-count rules to allow more businesses to rely on public garage spaces.
The Avondale City Council on Nov. 17 adopted zoning-code text changes for the Boulevard District intended to spur retail, entertainment and service uses. Lead Senior Planner Josh presented amendments that add and revise definitions (for example, video game arcades/eSports), add uses such as food halls and convention/exhibition facilities as permitted with conditions rather than conditional use permits, and modify parking rules to let businesses count public garage spaces within about a quarter-mile.
Staff said the revisions would also allow commercial sports complexes and exhibition halls to be permitted with conditions and update standards for large grocery stores (more than 36,000 square feet) to require at least two specialty services. To limit late-night noise, outdoor concert facilities added by the amendment would be prohibited from using live or recorded music or sound amplification between 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. The Planning Commission recommended approval 6–0 and council approved the item after asking about mapping and boundaries.
Josh said the amendments align the Boulevard District with current economic trends and state law changes that move some development approvals to administrative review. Staff said accessible parking requirements will remain and that the amendments include safeguards around double-counting garage spaces.
